In July 1997, taxes on fuel prices in the Netherlands were increased by 13 and 6 cents per litre for petrol and gasoil. This change in fuel prices has its effects on the tanking behaviour of car drivers that live at the borders with Germany and Belgium where fuel prices are (much) lower. In 1992, the Netherlands Economic Institute (NEI) developed a model for estimating the effects of changes in fuel prices in border areas. Recently, this model is/will be updated by means of measuring the tanking behaviour of car drivers in relevant areas at the border. This field work was done just before the fuel charge in the April-May period of 1997 and also in September of this year when the fuel charge was carried into effect for two months. (A)
Samenvatting